BY DAYO ADESULU
Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke is under protective custody in the United Kingdom.
He lamented that if she has not been under protective custody, he would have extradited her to Nigeria to face trial for 2.5 billion dollars alleged fraud.
Magu said: “We are in touch with the international community, she is under protective custody, otherwise, we would have arrested her, return her to Nigeria”.
Magu, during a media briefing in Kaduna on Monday, pleaded with the UK government to extradite Mrs Alison-Madueke to account for alleged missing of $2.5 billion in her ministry during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Magu who ahead of the Tuesday passing out parade of EFCC trainees at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), alleged that Diezani had stolen so much money.
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He added that Alison-Madueke needed to be extradited to the country to return the money back to the Federal Government.
Magu said: “I was in London this year where we did investigation together with the UK team. And anywhere I go, I always call for the extradition of corrupt Nigerians to return back the money.
“This woman has stolen so much, not less than 2.5 billion dollars, but unfortunately she has a generation of looters who are supporting her. This is not good.
“We are in touch with the international community, she is under protective custody, otherwise, we would have arrested her, return her to Nigeria”.
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Magu who believes that corruption is surmountable in Nigeria disclosed that in 2019, a total of 1,218 convictions were secured by the Commission.
”In January this year, 28 convictions were effected, involving billions of dollars and pound sterlings.
“We will not allow corruption to work here in Nigeria because it is destructive and disastrous,” he vowed.